Pasco senior ATH Janarion Grant has set up three official visits – but is still waiting to hear back from the new USF coaching staff.
Grant, a three-star recruit and one of Tampa Bay’s most dynamic athletes, said Wednesday that he has visits set up for Houston, Rutgers and Kentucky.
But Grant said he can’t even remember the last time he had contact with USF. Before the firing of Skip Holtz, the Bulls pursued Grant heavily and gave Grant his first offer, exactly a year ago.
At least part of the new coaching staff has recruited Grant in the past. Western Kentucky offered him a scholarship under then-head coach Willie Taggart, who was hired to lead USF last month.
“We haven’t been talking,” said Grant, the two-time North Suncoast player of the year. “I don’t know what they’re doing with the new coaches and everything.
“It doesn’t bother me. Coach has a lot of things going on. I understand that.”
Grant recently received an offer from Houston. Although the Cougars’ interest is fairly new, the coach recruiting Grant isn’t. Doug Meacham, who evaluated Grant as a receivers coach at Oklahoma State, was officially named Houston’s new offensive coordinator this week.
Grant received an in-home visit from East Carolina’s offensive coordinator and head coach this week and is trying to set up a visit there before signing day.
“I really like them,” Grant said of the Pirates. “Everything they said sounded wonderful.”
Kentucky’s offensive coordinator also visited Grant this week, although Pasco coach Tom McHugh said the Wildcats have not offered him a scholarship yet. Grant has a visit to Lexington planned the weekend before signing day. He has a visit scheduled to Rutgers next week.
The 5-foot-9, 165-pound Grant had one of the most prolific careers in North Suncoast history. His 77 touchdowns are believed to be a record, and he’s the two-time defending state champion in the long jump.
Grand holds about a dozen offers, including West Virginia, UConn, Indiana and Iowa State. You can see his highlight reel below.